Approximate location of spill site (NOAA, 1998)

Date of incident: January 3, 1992.

Location: About 30 miles off of Cape May, New Jersey (near the entrance to Delaware Bay).

Trustees:

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Overview: The container ship M/V Santa Clara, 30 miles off the coast of Cape May, New Jersey, lost a large portion of its containerized cargo of toxic arsenic trioxide during a severe storm. The containers each held numerous drums of the chemical, which became scattered along the sea floor. This occurred in 130 feet of water, in an area heavily used by commercial clammers and recreational fishermen. Most of the drums were successfully retrieved with no reports of chemical release. However, a portion of the ocean bottom was closed to fishing during the retrieval effort. NOAA sent notices to all surf clam and ocean quahog permit holders warning them of the potential dangers of exposure to the arsenic. While there were no reports of a chemical release, a portion of the ocean bottom was closed for fishing during the retrieval and testing efforts.